|
Welcome to the International Skeptics Forum, where we discuss skepticism, critical thinking, the paranormal and science in a friendly but lively way. You are currently viewing the forum as a guest, which means you are missing out on discussing matters that are of interest to you. Please consider registering so you can gain full use of the forum features and interact with other Members. Registration is simple, fast and free! Click here to register today. |
13th March 2006, 08:15 AM | #401 |
Graduate Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,484
|
Kelly,
My admiration for the work you are doing and my sympathy for the circumstances that led you into it. As of this morning, 3/13, it appears that psychicpredators.com is still not registered. I have heard rumors that squatters will sometimes register a name just because they have sniffed interest in the name by someone else. I don't know if that rumor is valid but you don't need to take the risk. I'm sure that if you delegate the task to one of our members who has volunteered that it could be registered today. I will add my name to the list of volunteers for that task if the others are preoccupied with jobs you've already assigned. P.S. I also favor the name secondwavepredators.com .org .whatever |
13th March 2006, 12:05 PM | #402 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
|
13th March 2006, 12:08 PM | #403 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
FowlSound, FowlSound, where fore art thou, FowlSound? He's locked in a domain name, but needed to convince GoDaddy to allow a slight change which would be psychicpredators.com. Hopefully, they will do so before someone snatches the name.
Thank you for the reminder and for the well wishes. Claus and FS are the primaries on the website work. Feel free to see if they need any extra help with that. |
13th March 2006, 12:14 PM | #404 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
HI Luke,
The family did give permission to share it on the blog. I did email it to Meg as (I believe) she is going to place commentary within to demonstrate what the psychic is trying to pull on the family member. If you would like to look at it, too, and maybe collaborate with Meg, I would be happy to email it to you. Do you think I should publish it here, too? I wouldn't be able to do either one until this evening, as I cannot access my read home emails from work. I'm sorry for all that your wife went through, but glad you wre able to help her see the light. I am surprised I see nothing else about SN online. You'd think she'd be in the news now and then, wouldn't you? |
13th March 2006, 12:54 PM | #405 |
Guest
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 14,716
|
|
13th March 2006, 06:10 PM | #406 |
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Salem, Oregon
Posts: 17,135
|
I haven't been in this, the "General Skepticism" part of the JREF board in a couple of weeks, and so had not seen this thread until KellyJ won the February Language award (congratulations by the way - well-deserved!).
I've just got to say how proud I am to be a part of this forum. What you people are all pulling together here, with Kelly at the helm, is nothing less than wonderful. And it will help countless more people than the StopKaz site ever will, since the topic is, sadly, something which effects far more people. For months, I've been thinking about what I might do next, now that Kaz is laying low. And a site about psychics was high on my list of possibilities. But with Kelly's perspective and expertise, she makes this project far more credible and meaningful than it would be from a generic skeptical perspective such as mine. She obviously has the passion and drive to make it work, and with the forum gang behind her, I expect this to be a site that will really make a difference in a lot of lives. Kelly, for you to have taken such pain and suffering and used them to fuel the positive things you do is an inspiration. If there is anything I can do, please let me know. But it looks like you're in very capable hands already. -RSL |
__________________
Who is "Kaz?" Read about her at www.StopKaz.com. Curious about Sylvia Browne? Read about her at www.StopSylvia.com. Ever wonder "What's the Harm?" with psychics, alternative medicine, etc? |
|
13th March 2006, 06:18 PM | #408 |
Guest
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 14,716
|
Kelly, this man's kung fu is too strong for charlatans. If you need someone to nail a psychic to the wall, this is your guy. Someone like that Nolte character is right up his alley. In fact, when I read your blog entry about her and the claims she made (related to Nick Nolte), I immediately thought of RSL and Kaz DeMille and her similar claims.
|
13th March 2006, 09:04 PM | #409 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
I would agree! I've had a wonderful, warm welcome, and more help than I'd dreamed of. I didn't know what kind of response I might get, but everyone pitched in and provided valuable information to help with the series. Not only that, but the project also blossomed into a future website.
You are more than welcome to write a guest post on the series, or provide a quote if you'd like. I can also use help with gathering up the best of the best of articles about psychics and missing people for the website. I am still strongly considering adding a forum to the site and having it moderated by the gentle persuasions of several here who have stepped forward and indicated an interest. One of my favorite quotes: "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” T.S. Elliot We're stronger working together. |
13th March 2006, 09:08 PM | #410 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
|
14th March 2006, 08:27 AM | #411 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,106
|
Here we go with another...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4803388.stm |
__________________
"I achieve these results through a mixture of magic,misdirection,suggestion and showmanship"-Derren Brown
|
|
14th March 2006, 08:46 AM | #412 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,547
|
For those who don't know, this is Diane Lazarus - the "winner" of the UK program 'Britain's Psychic Challenge' mentioned before. Her website claims much success in missing persons cases.
However, although it is probably pretty obvious that a person leaving a bar on New Year's Day located next to the docks is likely to have fallen into the water and perished, I find it interesting that the mother prefers to cling to the hope that her son is still alive, and she doesn't actually seem to comment either way on Diane's abilities. Diane's comments were pretty specific, so I am interested to see how this turns out. The whole thing makes me quite angry, as she was also quite graphic. |
14th March 2006, 09:07 AM | #413 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,547
|
On further reading, Diane took the mother out on a boat, and covered the same area that the police have just spent 2 weeks diving in.
Grasping. |
14th March 2006, 09:41 AM | #414 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,547
|
(sorry for blathering on, here)
Inspired by Luke T I decided to write to the BBC about the article:
Quote:
|
14th March 2006, 09:47 AM | #415 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
|
14th March 2006, 09:52 AM | #416 |
Lackey
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: South East, UK
Posts: 117,800
|
|
__________________
“If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago |
|
14th March 2006, 10:27 AM | #417 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
The more the merrier. Hopefully, it will force a response out of them. Thanks, Darat.
|
14th March 2006, 05:06 PM | #418 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,106
|
Well I emailed Diane Lazarus a few times to no avail.But then who expects any less?
|
__________________
"I achieve these results through a mixture of magic,misdirection,suggestion and showmanship"-Derren Brown
|
|
14th March 2006, 06:59 PM | #419 |
Guest
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 14,716
|
|
14th March 2006, 07:08 PM | #420 |
Guest
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 11,933
|
Sorry about the domain name. I got a call in a while back and was sidetracked. I will call again, and hope they let me change it. If not, I will register the second one and point them both at the website.
Sorry! *mumbles something about needing a clone to help with all the bloody work... |
14th March 2006, 08:17 PM | #421 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
|
15th March 2006, 06:41 AM | #422 |
Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 231
|
There was a quite similar case in the danish town Odense, where a young man went missing and was later found in the water, although the initial search failed to find him. In this case, however, the psychic that came forward didn't state the obvious, but instead claimed that the man had been abducted, and was held captive in a basement somewhere in town!
This resulted in his friends starting their own search, even waking up a caretaker in the middle of the night to search a building. All this commotion scared the town, of course, but when it was all over, the psychic didn't think she had done anything wrong! It's at least a year ago I heard the story in a radio broadcast, and it was also available as a streamed broadcast. Unfortunately I can't seem to find it anymore. The program was about the use of psychics by the police, and whether they should put manpower into investigating psychic claims. I've contemplated writing a post about this case, so if anybody has a link to the broadcast, it'll be most appreciated. (It was from DR, most likely P1) |
__________________
John Edward: But, I'm a psychic. Stan Marsh: No, dude. You're a douche. John Edward: I'm not a douche. What if I really believed dead people talk to me? Stan Marsh: Then, you're a stupid douche! |
|
15th March 2006, 08:59 PM | #423 |
red-shirted crewman
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,661
|
Paige's Page: 30th Skeptics' Circle
This is the Skeptics' Circle I mentioned earlier, a regular 'blog carnival' on skeptical topics. This week's host led off with Kelly's item. |
__________________
Aurora Walking Vacation "A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding."--Marshall McLuhan |
|
15th March 2006, 09:22 PM | #424 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
|
15th March 2006, 11:55 PM | #425 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 42,371
|
KellyJ,
Check your PM. |
16th March 2006, 07:25 AM | #426 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
Our very own chillzero is featured on the blog series today. She tells the story of how she came to rational thinking, and she also does a very good job of addressing the families of the missing in relationship to using psychics.
Thank you, chillzero! Kelly http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/ |
16th March 2006, 12:16 PM | #427 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
Poetic justice alert!
I just received a call from the Fxxxxxxxx Scholarship folks in Washington, DC. They read yesterday's blog entry about "The Guarantee?" and they are very upset. They are not upset with me, but with Diego and what he did. At the time, University Police only gave him a slap on the hands, but the Fxxxxxx folks are ticked off and want to take it further. They said his priveliges/Visa could be revoked, depending upon what the university decides to do. I xxx'd out part of the scholarship name, since they do searches on it daily, and I don't want them poking around. I offered to delete their name from the blog, but they were ok with it staying. I think they were pretty shocked to have uncovered this. I told them frankly that I thought the U should confiscate his PC and make sure he did not attempt it again or actually scam someone. I hope they do that. I did ask them to let me know what happens. So, after all this time, perhaps justice will be served. Thanks for listening. |
17th March 2006, 01:47 PM | #428 |
Pastor of Muppets
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,457
|
Kelly, be sure to update us on what, if anything, happens to this guy. I read the blog and noticed that, even though you wrote "University of XXXXXX in XXXXX, KY, you provided a link to the actual university.
Anyway, since XXXXX, KY is where I live, I'd like to know if anything happens to him. |
__________________
"I love you like a fat kid love cake." - 50 Cent |
|
17th March 2006, 02:06 PM | #429 |
OD’ing on Damitol
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Walk in an ever expanding Archimedean spiral and you'll find me eventually
Posts: 3,192
|
Quote:
Or maybe I’m just looking for a belated excuse to say how I, like everyone else, am gladdened by your participation in this forum and by all the good work you do. (especially loved the Diego entry) |
__________________
I collect people like you in little formaldehyde bottles in my basement. (Not a threat. A hobby.) |
|
17th March 2006, 03:04 PM | #430 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,547
|
|
17th March 2006, 03:10 PM | #431 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
That is hilarious! I thought I cleaned that out so there was no clear reference to the actual location. The Fxxxxxx Scholarship people were able to figure it out because apparently he was the only Diego in KY with that privelege.
The woman from Fxxxx promised to let me know what happens to the scumbag. The reason that I did not make it 100% clear who he is, is because of a bit of nervousness when dealing with people from foreign countries. YOu never know what is their take on respect for life. Note to self: Get more sleep. Either that, or don't post when half alseep. |
17th March 2006, 03:11 PM | #432 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
|
17th March 2006, 03:14 PM | #433 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
|
17th March 2006, 03:15 PM | #434 |
Bufo Caminus Inedibilis
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Citrus Heights, CA
Posts: 15,468
|
Something damned well ought to. Enough is enough. This creep, while on a scholarship, is trying to bilk money from innocent people who are suffering.
His scholarship ought to be revoked, he ought to be sent home, and he ought to be barred from returning to this country. Bastard. |
17th March 2006, 03:29 PM | #435 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
I don't know anything about the Fxxxxx Scholarship, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of the money does come from taxes.
He already has his PHD, the woman told me. RT: Why don't you just head on down there and make some carefully placed treadmarks? If you hear on the news that I was shot and killed, you'll know why. (dramatic music plays) |
17th March 2006, 03:48 PM | #436 |
Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 231
|
|
__________________
John Edward: But, I'm a psychic. Stan Marsh: No, dude. You're a douche. John Edward: I'm not a douche. What if I really believed dead people talk to me? Stan Marsh: Then, you're a stupid douche! |
|
17th March 2006, 05:22 PM | #437 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Renton, WA
Posts: 6,277
|
|
17th March 2006, 05:49 PM | #438 |
Muse
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 664
|
I'd like to second that sentiment.
Chillzero's article was an enlightening piece that will serve to not only inform people who are unfortunately in this terrible situation, but also self-professed psychics who (genuinely) think that they can help in these situations and skeptics who need to understand more deeply why certain people think they can genuinely help. Congratulations chillzero for an excellent piece, and congratulations also to KellyJ for setting up such an important project. Truly inspiring work. John |
__________________
|
|
18th March 2006, 03:40 AM | #439 |
Graduate Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,123
|
Hi Kelly,
I haven't posted before in this thread as I didn't think I had anything to add but I just want to say I'm very impressed with everything you're doing over there. Also, I thought I'd just give you a heads up that although you've now blanked out the link and if you click on it it goes to no where if you hover over the link you can still see the universities web address, I'm not sure whether this was your intention or not but incase it wasn't I thought I'd let you know |
18th March 2006, 06:47 AM | #440 |
red-shirted crewman
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,661
|
Psychics and light bulbs
Given a burned-out light bulb...
Psychic: "I'm getting an impression of height, an impression of reaching up, as if to a ceiling..." Homeowner: "No, it wasn't a ceiling light." Psychic: "No, it was a table lamp. Like I said, elevated above the floor." Homeowner: "No, it wasn't a table lamp." Psychic: "As I said, it was near a table...one of those free standing floor lamps..." Homeowner: "No, it came from the light outside my front door." Psychic: "Exactly as I said; it was above your head." The next day the psychic's website is updated to include the claim: Assisted homeowner in emergency bulb replacement. |
__________________
Aurora Walking Vacation "A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding."--Marshall McLuhan |
|
|
|